Regret leaving my long term job

[Mustbemethatstheproblem]

Title says it all really. Worked in NHS admin for over 16 years. Loved the job but management were chaotic and money orientated. I saw a huge turnover of staff during my time but I loved what I did and could "close off" from this. I did have the opportunity to work a couple of days from home which I loved. I eventually thought I had found the "job of my dreams" after another huge amount of staff leaving but the new post wasn't all all what I expected, nice people but I was bored and used to a fast-paced workload. I moved on after 9 months to another job but I just can't settled. Again, nice people, lovely office, but I just feel I am constantly looking for work to do! I am only 6 weeks into the new job and trying to be super keen but I can slowly feel a cloud of unhappiness creep in. I feel anxious and constantly regret leaving my NHS job (rose tinted glasses I know!). I think a lot of my problem is my age as I am a few years off retirement age. I can't move posts again because it would look so bad and I am beginning to feel I am the problem!
I suppose I am interested if anyone else has felt the same and how they dealt with it?

Thank you.

Job hopping doesn’t look good but that doesn’t mean you have to be unhappy.

Sounds like you’re used to being busier but approaching retirement will a more relaxed role must be nice in a way?

6 weeks is still very early, if you like the people then I would give it time and maybe you could lead some initiatives? I’m sure you have a lot of experience others could learn from.

Could be a charity initiative, internal learning programmes, team away day planning etc.

@ohimightaswell Thank you so much, that has really helped. I do like the people, they have been so welcoming and you are right that 6 weeks isn't a long time. I suppose I thought I would be in the same job until I retired and I was so good at it as well!

If you want to go back to your old job and they have high turnover there, couldn't you just ask? You were there for years so they'll know you're not flighty even if you have only been a short time in a couple of following jobs. You can explain that you want to work somewhere really fast paced and you haven't found that anywhere else so you're really keen to come back.

I'd have thought they'd bite your arm off tbh because I'd imagine (and it's sounds like) a lot of people would not enjoy such a fast paced place to work and would find it very stressful.

Tell your old job you want to go back.

@sodit64 Thank you for your reply. I did ask at the time but they had already recruited someone and since then have had a complete restructure and I think my original post has been divided into two (funny that!) posts so its not an option. They asked me to stay and I gave some honest feedback as to why I was leaving as well so it probably would not have worked. Put it this way - not one member of the management team bothered to wish the staff a Happy Xmas sort of vibe! I suppose its an element of "the grass isn't always greener!" but I left for the right reasons which seems to have backfired a bit. My family would have been horrified if I went back!

@HoLeeFuk Love the name! I can't now - its too late.

Thanks!

What about other NHS departments?

@HoLeeFuk Strangely enough I got offered 2 NHS jobs but they would only start me on the bottom of the scale again because I had worked in a GP surgery and not hospital which was just above the minimum wage! They would not accommodate my experience! Both jobs were very part-time and no parking!

Ugh, what stupidity. I suppose it's a question of whether you can put up with the current job for a few years until retirement? I found it really soul destroying to have a job with not enough to do, but if there's a fixed end date then things can be more tolerable.

Good luck, there is no perfect job. I think you may have to change your mindset and move on; you were in your old role for a long time and It may take some time adjusting to the change.

I don’t regret leaving my corporate role as I was burnt out; I landed a job pretty quickly but still wondering if it is the right one. Friendly people and good company but I feel i went backwards.

How far off retirement are you? The job market at the moment is pretty crap, so you might be better off sticking it out if you can

It wouldn't look bad at all if you moved again! Its completely normal now and many employers understand that people are trying to find a good fit.

It might actually be down to age - I’m approaching 60 and just feel so bored despite my job being busy!

There are so many other things I’d rather be doing than sat at a desk which I’ve pretty much done all my life.

Six months minimum to get used to any new job - less than that and you're not really giving it a fair crack of the whip. By all means keep scouting the job market in the meantime, but unless a place is horribly toxic then it's fair to both you and the employer to give it a proper go. Six weeks is nothing.

I've had very busy jobs and jobs where there's not enought to do and the latter is way more stressful imo. Hope things improve or another job comes up. I don't think it matters re changing jobs frequently- you're allowed to move around/try new things and have a life. Good luck.x